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Five things to watch for at Republican debate in Miami

It’s debate night in Miami, where the four Republicans standing in the presidential race will square off ahead of the critical March 15 primary in Florida, where one of them will walk off with 99 delegates.

Kasich needs a win Tuesday in Ohio, where he leads some polls and could take in 66 delegates with a victory.

Rubio is in more dire straights, making Thursday’s debate a critical moment for him. He must win Florida, but trails Trump in most polls.

Trump says he’s going for the knockout blow, and Cruz will similarly be seeking to squeeze Rubio out to set up a two-man race.

Here are five things to watch for at the debate hosted by CNN, Salem Radio and The Washington Times.

Will the tone turn from nasty to nice?

Many Republicans were embarrassed by the personal insults, bickering and low-brow turn of the GOP debate a week ago in Detroit.

That debate will be remembered for Trump responding to criticism from Rubio that he has “small hands” by referencing the size of his manhood.

A focus group conducted by Republican pollster Frank Luntz described the proceedings as “childish” and “embarrassing,” while a former aide to Rick Perry fretted that his party had committed suicide on national television.

Democrats have been gleeful over the mudslinging, believing it puts them in a strong position for the general election.

Rubio appears ready to discard his strategy of matching Trump insult for insult. The Florida senator has acknowledged that his “kids were embarrassed by it” and that it made his wife uncomfortable.

It also didn’t seem to work.

Trump stampeded through Tuesday’s primaries, while Rubio didn’t win a single delegate.

Will Cruz and Trump call on Rubio to drop out?

Rubio is being challenged on a daily basis about why he is still in the race, and Trump and Cruz have both called on him to drop out.

If they repeat those calls on the debate stage, it will set up a dramatic moment.

Kasich faces a similar threat, though his standing in Ohio polls gives him a better argument.

He’s also repeatedly acknowledged he’s angling for a seat at the table of a contested convention, which would take place if no candidate gets to 1,237 delegates.

The narrative is turning against both men, as many Republicans — even some who have in the past recoiled at the thought of a Cruz nomination — are coming around to the idea that the others need to fall away for the Texas senator to take Trump on one-on-one.

Will there be a softer tone on immigration?

Democrats are running for the Hispanic vote, which Republicans worry could cost them the election if Trump is their nominee.

The billionire's controversial descriptions of illegal immigrants and his claim that he’ll build a wall along the southern border that Mexico will pay for has raised questions about whether he’d lose 80 percent of Hispanic voters. (President Obama won more than 70 percent in 2008 and 2012.)

Since Thursday’s debate is in Miami, Trump may seek a different tone — especially because he now needs to have an eye on the general election.

At the last debate, he already announced a “softening” os his stance on visas for highly skilled immigrant workers.

But Trump may not be able to go too far while sharing a stage with Cruz, who will be looking for any sign of weakness from the front-runner to reclaim the mantle of the most hawkish Republican on border security.

Expect the administration’s policy toward Cuba, as well as the Puerto Rican debt crisis, to also be in focus at the debate. Those issues could set Rubio up for a couple of strong moments.

Ganging up on Trump

The hour is getting late for those seeking to stop Trump. If he wins Florida and Ohio on Tuesday, many political analysts believe the game will effectively be over.

Trump has been the subject of relentless assault from outside groups on the airwaves in both states, but those attacks have failed to slow him down.

The Rubio and Cruz campaigns have been digging through opposition research, signaling they’ll make the case against the celebrity tycoon by dredging up controversial aspects of his decades-long business career.

Expect Trump to have to answer for the university, the vodka, the steaks, the beauty pageants, the bankruptcies, the taxes and a host of other issues that go to the core of his business record.